BMC to hike parking ticket prices by 100%
Mumbai: If you always thought that parking tickets are a means of loot by contractors, brace for a 100% hike in charges by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The hike, the BMC believes, will lead to a reduction in corruption by the contractors. The hike will mean car parking will cost Rs10 for the first hour instead of Rs 5, and two-wheeler parking Rs5 for two hours instead of Rs2. The rates will be revised up by 50% after two years. Also, there will no longer be free night parking as the BMC plans to make parking lots operational for 24 hours instead of 12.
The revised tariff is expected to earn the BMC more than Rs12 crore per year from the lots — up from Rs6.5 crore.
“There is nothing wrong with our hike as the rates at private parking lots, like in multiplexes and theatres, are much higher. The revised rates came into effect on May 1, but only 21 of 84 lots have been allowed to implement them. The rates will come into effect in the remaining lots after the new tendering is completed,” said a BMC official.
He said the tariff hike will help the BMC curb violation of rules by the contractors. “With only three officials to oversee 84 parking lots, we are helpless. We propose to decentralise the monitoring of parking lots at the ward level,” he said.
A former contractor, Anil Patel, said 90% of parking lot contractors break rules. “I can give you a number of examples. At Hutatma Chowk, near Hong Kong Bank, the parking lot occupies two lanes — a violation of the rules.
“At Hinduja college, bikes are parked in three lanes and the bikers asked to keep the vehicles unlocked so that the attendants can move the bikes. Legally, an attendant cannot even touch a parked vehicle.
“At Breach Candy, half the footpaths are occupied by vehicles. How can the traffic police allow such violation?”
Deputy chief engineer (traffic) R Kuknoor said action will be taken if a complaint is registered: “People should come forward and approach us with complaints.”